“Would you like to buy a cottage?” That’s all it took for the Woods family to become cottagers on Boshkung Lake. Friends from church wanted to ensure the cottage next door sold to a family they liked. At the time the Woods parents were wondering how to keep the family together as their children flew the nest. A cottage was a perfect solution and the family has been gathering on Boshkung every summer since. This summer marks fifty years since the Woods family first gathered on Boshkung to play in the water, beside the water and work on cottage projects. According to daughter Vicki Woods “Dad always says the cottage is where nothing works but the owner.” Upon arrival, guests check the job list on the side of the refrigerator to find out how they can help out. The Woods routine is “work hard in the morning, play hard in the afternoon.” One of the family projects was the building of a large garage. With several small storage buildings scattered across the property, a guest commented what they needed was one large garage. Within twenty minutes Mr. Woods was pacing out an area where the garage would be and a plan was created. Together the family built what is now affectionately called “the hangar.” It’s big enough to store everything- including boats and a family member’s convertible VW. The Woods family also uses the hangar to play their own version of Hawaiian Ping Pong. The family has grown since 1975 with the original empty nester children now empty nesters themselves; but at the cottage there is room for everyone including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Vicki was able to purchase the property next door to expand the space. The family refers to her cottage as “South- Woods” while the original cottage is “North-Woods”. The space is well used as there is always an annual family gathering to celebrate the eldest Wood member. Vicki’s father celebrated his 93 rd birthday on July 8 th with 23 in attendance for the extended week-end. The entire community of Boshkung is important to the Woods family. Vicki recalls “Mom was involved with the Boshkung Millennia Book project for the whole lake; telling stories of the cottages on the lake.” Vicki continued in her mother’s footsteps as the past editor of The Informer, the annual Boshkung Lake Association newsletter and now as the organization’s president. She cites 80% of the 272 properties on the lake belong to the association. “Through the skills and hard work of many volunteers the association works.” Among events she lists is regatta week-end and the up-coming 2 nd annual Summer Sizzle – food, music and dancing at the Stanhope community centre. Of course there is always the Annual General Meeting she chairs to cover topics of concern to Boshkung cottagers. The association is “For those who love the lake and the memories it has given.” This certainly includes the Woods family. No matter where the family spreads across the country, Vicki knows they will always return to Boshkung.

Some people say this younger generation doesn’t want to work; they haven’t met Bronson McCord. The Little Hawk Lake Road resident works full-time for Northern HVAC company, works part-time evenings at Rhubarb in Carnarvon and owns his own small landscaping and odd jobs business. This wasn’t McCord’s first plan. Originally his dream job was to become a TSN Sports Broadcaster. Graduating from Haliburton High School with honours, he was accepted to the Journalism programme at Dalhousie University. He got a summer job to pay for his school and started the Monday after completing high school. He never left. McCord discovered he enjoyed the work and if he stayed he could get paid to go to school. After much soul searching he withdrew his acceptance from Dalhousie and embarked on his career in the trades. He had taken some wood working courses but most of his high school courses were more academically focused such as history and English. Kieran Gillooley, owner of Northern HVAC arranged through government grants for McCord to attend HiMARK Occupational Skills Training Centre, a co-op programme in Barrie He completed the gas fitting programme with licenses in gas fitting with a G2 license holder. Bronson earliest years were in Haliburton, but from the ages 3-7 were “all over the place,” including Moose Jaw, Huntsville, Gravenhurst and Washago. When placed in the foster system at 7, his grandmother adopted him and her returned to Haliburton County and has been very grateful. Elementary school at Archie Stouffer in Minden meant introduction to sports and friends of whom he is still in touch today. After high school much of his cohort left for school as he intended to do, but Bronson has no regrets. Haliburton County has everything he needs. Except concerts. He has become a fan of country music and he enjoys traveling to Toronto and beyond to see his favourite bands. When not working or attending concerns he plays weekly in a men’s basketball league at Hali High. While his girlfriend is not a local girl, he met her in true Haliburton fashion, around a campfire at a party he was invited to last minute when he ran into school friends at Boshkung Social. Bronson sees a future with his girlfriend who is currently attending York University on the path to Law School. His ultimate goal is a “1950’s lifestyle of family, children, a pet and a home.” Bronson acknowledges home ownership is a challenging to attain, he is willing to work hard, save and be on the look out for the right place, hopefully in Haliburton County but is willing to move anywhere to achieve his dream.

Inspired by his grandfather’s camp stories from 1942, Zach Warne always wanted to attend Kilcoo Camp. When he arrived for his first camp experience at the age of twelve, he knew he was in heaven. After years as a camper, he rose through the ranks of staff up to the director of Leaders in Training. Warne admits, staying until age 24 was “far longer than I should have” but felt the need to be “up north,” loving the opportunity to be in nature with his life-long friends. The arrival of Covid ended Warnes’ camp days but was also an opportunity for his parents to purchase a cottage on Gull Lake. With a place to stay, Warne continued spending summers in the area landing a summer gig at Rails End Gallery, using skills from his Fine Arts degree from OCAD. Working at Rails End introduced him to the arts community in Haliburton. Joining the Haliburton Arts Council “legitimized (him) as an artist” and offered him support for the business side of the art world not part of his OCAD curriculum. Warner began showing and selling his abstract and landscape work and building his resume. But unfortunately, like so many jobs in the Haliburton area, the Rails End position was only for the summer. In February 2024, while sipping coffee over a copy of The Highlander, he saw an ad for his dream job. By April he moved full-time to Gull Lake, landing the position of curator of the Haliburton Highlands Museum, working alongside museum director Kate Butler, creating displays showcasing local history. His favourite part is working at the farmstead in Glebe Park during the summer months, inspired by nature. Through learning about the local history Warne understands why the Haliburton Highlands “is a good place with good people - people who look out for each other.” Warne theorizes “people had to stick together in the beginning; they were dying if they didn’t.” It is the culture of neighbours collaborating which has resulted in the long family lineages he sees in the Highlands. He admits after his first couple of winters “he wouldn’t have made it” alone in Haliburton back in the day. Sharing the stories of the Highlands at the museum in an artistic manner fills Warne’s day but also leaves enough time for him to work on his personal artistic projects. He thanks his grade twelve teacher for introducing him to oils, explaining it was like “falling in love.” He was also encouraged to follow his dream of an artistic lifestyle when an OCAD instructor insisted his work was worthy of displaying in a gallery. During the summer Warne sets up his easel on the dock overlooking Gull Lake, painting the light reflecting off the water. He often gets sunburns on his back and shoulders documenting how engrossed he gets into his work. Warne’s position as curator of the museum allows him to meld his first love - the beauty of the Highlands with his love for the arts – for Warne it is a perfect marriage.